From Batteries to the Deep Sea: AI and Ocean Discovery

Much of the ocean floor remains unexplored and unmapped to geological detail, yet it plays a crucial role in discovering resource potentials for our modern societies while hosting unique marine ecosystems. My research applies artificial intelligence to predict geological seafloor characteristics in areas where direct measurements are sparse or missing. It helps in discovering unknown volcanoes as well as other abyssal landscapes and potential habitats.

Join me on a journey into the hidden world of hydrothermal systems deep in the oceans. I’ll give an overview of the diverse types of deep-sea vents around the globe, explain how these “underwater hot springs” work, and introduce the unique animals and ecosystems that thrive there. We’ll also take a look at the mineral resources associated with these systems.
The talk will be packed with stunning video footage and photos, giving you a close-up view of one of the ocean’s most extreme and fascinating environments.

Lithium-ion batteries power our everyday lives: from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles. But as climate change accelerates, we need safer, cleaner, and more powerful energy storage. Today’s batteries rely on liquid electrolytes, a technology that is slowly reaching its physical limits. So what comes next? All-solid-state batteries offer a promising answer. By replacing flammable liquids with solid materials, they can deliver higher safety, more energy, and longer lifetimes. This could enable applications ranging from electric aviation to spacecraft and heavy-duty technologies, where current battery systems struggle. This talk connects the battery in your pocket to the future of energy and shows how chemistry could power the next leap forward.